Philadelphia, PA – The road to WrestleMania 42 took a definitive turn on Monday night, as Roman Reigns officially chose CM Punk as his opponent for the World Heavyweight Championship. The decision followed a compelling promo battle between the two stars on edition of WWE Raw, a segment widely praised by fans and industry observers.
The confrontation, described as a clash of titans, culminated in Reigns selecting Punk after surveying the Philadelphia crowd, whose resounding support clearly favored a match against “The Best in the World.” This sets the stage for a high-stakes encounter in Las Vegas this April, marking the first confirmed match for WrestleMania 42.
Following the Raw segment, Punk appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and offered his perspective on Reigns’ decision, and the dynamic between the two. He dismissed suggestions that Reigns simply elevated his performance during their verbal exchange, attributing it instead to his own presence and ability to draw the best out of opponents. “Ah, imagine that. In the ring with CM Punk, bringing the best out of guys? Yeah, I’ve heard that before,” Punk remarked.
Punk emphasized the significance of the matchup, stating that a Reigns-Punk clash represents the pinnacle of professional wrestling attraction. “But when you take wrestling and you look at who are the biggest names in the industry, the top two are CM Punk and Roman Reigns. You want to see them in the biggest event, in the main event at WrestleMania. We’re here now,” he stated.
Interestingly, Punk revealed a degree of uncertainty leading up to Reigns’ announcement. He admitted to considering the possibility that Reigns might choose Drew McIntyre as his WrestleMania opponent, viewing McIntyre as a potentially “easier” challenge. This acknowledgement speaks to the perceived difficulty of facing Punk, a veteran known for his exceptional in-ring skills and captivating mic work.
However, Punk quickly shifted to a more assertive tone, suggesting that he strategically maneuvered Reigns into making the decision he desired. He believes he successfully agitated Reigns, prompting an emotional response rather than a calculated choice. “But where I’m at right now, I got him exactly where I want him. He picked me. I got under his skin. He’s emotional. We all know those emotional Samoans, they can’t control themselves,” Punk said.
The roots of this rivalry extend beyond recent WWE programming. The two performers shared an unexpected on-screen partnership while voicing characters – Zebro Zebrowski and Zebro Zebraxton – in the 2025 animated film Zootopia 2. Punk publicly acknowledged the chemistry they developed during the voice acting process, noting it mirrored their dynamic in the wrestling ring. Reigns’ reference to “Zebros” during the Raw promo was a subtle nod to this off-screen collaboration, now seamlessly integrated into their on-screen feud.
Further complicating the narrative is a history dating back to 2018, when Punk appeared on a podcast hosted by Colt Cabana while estranged from WWE. During that conversation, Punk discussed the origins of The Shield, revealing that he had previously pitched an idea for a faction featuring Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Kassius Ohno (Chris Hero) – a concept that was ultimately rejected by WWE officials.
The decision to book Reigns versus Punk at WrestleMania 42 is being lauded as a smart move by WWE. The pairing is expected to significantly boost ticket sales for the event in Las Vegas. The feud is layered with history, both real and kayfabe, and promises a compelling narrative leading up to the championship match. The promo battle on Raw, and the subsequent comments from Punk, have successfully heightened anticipation for what is shaping up to be a marquee event for professional wrestling.
The build to WrestleMania 42 is now firmly underway, with Roman Reigns and CM Punk poised to deliver a clash that has been years in the making. The psychological warfare has already begun, and fans can expect a continued escalation of intensity as the two stars prepare to collide on the grandest stage of them all.
